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DIPLOMACY
Bush won support for his views on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism and curbs on Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs. And he was able to sideline the issue of giving poorer nations access to trade-name drugs at lower cost, which U.S. drug companies oppose. But he could not get agreement from his European G8 partners on free trade in genetically modified foods. The summit's communiqué recognized the spread of WMD in tandem with international terrorism as "the preeminent threat to international security." As countermeasures, the G8 leaders adopted an action plan to prevent radiological terrorism and to secure radioactive sources, and they created a Counter-Terrorism Action Group to combat international terrorist groups. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and the chemical and biological weapons conventions. G8 leaders "strongly urged" North Korea "to visibly, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle any nuclear weapons programs." And they underscored Iran's need to comply fully "with its obligations under NPT" and to allow a comprehensive assessment of its nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The group's statement on the spread of WMD noted the range of existing instruments to halt WMD proliferation. Included are global treaties, inspection regimes, coordinated export controls, weapons destruction programs, "and, if necessary, other measures in accordance with international law." According to an unnamed U.S. official, the U.S. interprets "other measures" to mean the use of force, if necessary. At a press conference, President Chirac said "this interpretation seems to be extraordinarily daring." There was more unity among the leaders for science and technology programs to support sustainable development. The adopted action plan stresses "cooperative scientific research on transformational technologies ... to improve public health by cutting pollution." It also calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions "to address the challenge of global climate change." The G8 leaders agreed to focus efforts on three areas that offer the best avenues for progress. The first is coordination of global observation strategies over the next 10 years to build a system that will produce reliable data on the atmosphere, land, fresh water and oceans, and ecosystems. Another effort will center on developing and promoting cleaner, sustainable, and more efficient energy use. This includes developing both cleaner fossil fuel technologies, such as cleaner coal, and hydrogen fuel-cell technology. A White House fact sheet notes that the U.S. is investing $1.7 billion to develop hydrogenfuel-cell technology and is spending $1 billion on the first zero-emissions coal-fired power plant. The third area of effort concentrates on promoting sustainable agricultural technologies and practices--including the safe use of biotechnologies--to reduce pollution, improve human health, and encourage biodiversity. The goals include the prevention of famine, improvement in productivity, and conservation of water and other natural resources. .S. ROUNDTABLE Leaders of the G8 industrial nations met in Evian, France, to discuss a bevy of issues, including science and technology programs. |
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